Species (common name, Latin name)

Western mountain-ash

Sorbus scopulina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Various forms of Sorbus scopulina (5)

 

Range

Southern Alaska to northern California, mainly in the east range mapCascades, east to the Dakotas, and south to Utah and New Mexico (4)

 

Climate, elevation

Down to sea level in the north, between 1200-2750m in south. (6)  Found at 6,500' to 9,000' from the east slope of the Rocky Mountains west across the mountainous regions of the Great Basin. (7)

 

 

Range of Sorbus scopulina (6)

 

Local occurrence (where, how common)

Mostly along the E. Cascades (4)

 

Habitat preferences

S. scopulina inhabits well drained soils along streams, avalanche chutes and rocky hillsides. (3)

 

Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)

Facultative upland plant, early to mid successional colonizer.

 

Associated species

Grass: Calamagrostis rubescens, Carex pennsylvanica, C. rossii, Festuca viridula, Juncus drummondii, Elymus glaucus, Poa pratensis, Stipa lemmonii, S. occidentalis. (8)

Trees:  Abies amabilis, Pinus contorta, Tsuga mertensiana,Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, magnifica var. shastensis, A. procera, Picea englemannii, Populus. (8)

Shrubs: Pachistima myrsinites, Rhododendron macrophyllum, Rubus lasiococcus, Sorbus scopulina, S. sitchensis, Spiraea sp., Vaccinium membranaceum, V. scoparium, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Castanopsis chrysophylla, Menziesia ferruginea, Pachistima myrsinites, Rosa gymnocarpa, Rubus parviflorus, R. ursinus, Vaccinium alaskaense, V. ovatum, V. parvifolium. (8)

Forbs:  Achillea millefolium, Anemone oregana, Pedicularis racemosa, Aster alpigenus, Chimaphila umbellata, Cornus canadensis, Luetkea pectinata, Ligusticum grayi, Linnaea borealis, Lomatium martindalei, Luina stricta, Lupinus bicolor, Pyrola secunda, Senecio triangularis, Smilacina stellata, Tiarella trifoliata, Veratrum viride, Viola orbiculata, V. sempervirens, Xerophyllum tenax. (8)

May be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)

Seeds or Cuttings

 

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Seed: Ripe berries in large clusters, easily identified and collected in September and transported in plastic bags in cooler. (1)

 

Cutting:

Late summer semi-hardwood stem cutting collect in early August. Take from nonflower stem tip shoots. (3)

 

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Physiological dormancy, berries should be depulped as soon as possible because pulp contains germination inhibitors. Depulp in blender with rubber tubing covering blender blades; wash and float off pulp / juice several times to remove all traces of fruit pulp prior to straining and air-drying on paper towels. (1)(2) Requires 60-100 day cold-moist stratification. (1)

 

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Seed reportedly stores well for several years in sealed containers at 6 to 8% moisture content. (1)

Seed longevity is up to 5 years at 3 to 5C with low relative humidity in sealed containers. (2)

Recommended seed storage conditions

Seed should be stored at 3to 5C with low relative humidity in sealed containers. (2)

Cuttings should be kept moist and under refrigeration. (3)

 

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Seed or cutting

 

Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)

Mesic to moist, no inoculum necessary. (5)(7)

 

Installation form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)

Seed or cutting very successful, and both very cheap.

 

Recommended planting density

Space  24+ inches.  Will form dense thickets. (5)

 

Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)

Water weekly depending on weather, use well drained soil. (3)  Not very drought tolerant. (7)

 

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

An erect deciduous shrub growing to 15 feet tall often forming dense thickets. (5)

 

Sources cited

 

1.  Trindle, Joan DC; Flessner, Theresa R. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of container Sorbus scopulina Greene plants (one-gallon containers); Corvallis Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 8 May 2005). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery

 

2.  Luna, Tara; Wick, Dale. 2004. Propagation protocol for production of container Sorbus scopulina Greene var. scopulina Greene plants (172 ml containers); Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 8 May 2005). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.

 

3.  Luna, Tara; Hosokawa, Joy. 2001. Propagation protocol for vegetative production of container Sorbus scopulina Greene var. scopulina Greene plants (800 ml containers); Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 8 May 2005). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.

 

4. Zeidler, Scott; Justin, John. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of field-grown Sorbus scopulina Greene plants (2+0); Lone Peak Nursery,Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Land, Draper, Utah. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 8 May 2005). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.

 

5. http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=693

 

6. http://www.pennine.demon.co.uk/Arboretum/Sosc.htm

 

7. Utah State Horticulture index found at: http://www.hort.usu.edu/html/shrubs/WesternMtAsh.htm

 

8. McKenzie Watershed Counsel: Atlas of the Natural Environment. Found at: http://www.mckenziewatershedcouncil.org/mckenzieatlas/veg_types.htm

 

Data compiled by (student name and date)

 

Nick Ostrovsky 05/08/05